Europe’s largest low cost carrier could topple British Airways as the nation’s number one airline within months, according to a prediction from the low-cost carrier.

In spite of carrying 1.4 million passengers in the British market during the month of September compared with 1.6 million who flew British Airways, the flagship carrier is cutting back the number of flights that it will offer this winter, as Ryanair predicts that it will continue to grow.

Chief executive for Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, said that this would allow the airline to overtake BA as the largest carrier in Britain. He said that it was hard to know when it would happen because it was hard to keep up with how fast BA’s passenger numbers are declining.

Ryanair has increased its total number of passengers by 15 percent to 36.4 million in the six months to the end of September, and already carries more people across Europe than any other airline, but is challenging traditional flagship airlines in their home markets.

But Mr O’Leary has said that the days of rapid expansion at Ryanair could come to an end unless the airline struck a deal with aircraft manufacturer Boeing for up to 200 new aircraft. Ryanair already has 100 on order for delivery by 2012 and, if it cannot secure the new aircraft, the airline will adjust its future strategy and return the cash to shareholders instead.

O’Leary said that the strategy could lead to higher than normal airfares because the airline will no longer be working so hard to fill an expanding number of seats.